181-1 Cultivating Connection: Analyzing the Positive Relationships Edible Gardens have with Local Communities and Ecosystems

Session: Community Engaged Research for Environmental Sustainability and Community Resilience (Posters)

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

A community-based garden is important in facilitating society’s relationship with the natural environment. Edible gardens create a bond between people and nature through delicious food, quality ingredients, and healthy ecosystems. Creating small gardens across an industrialized landscape gives native populations of pollinators chances to survive through food and shelter access, as well as decreasing competition within their species. This research project examined native pollinator activity at the Maimon Memorial Garden (MMG) at Cox Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio, and explored the impact of donating locally grown organic produce on community and ecosystem health. While assisting in the managing of crops in the MMG, workers and volunteers aided in the harvesting of the crops to be donated to the local Food Bank and Warped Wing. This pesticide-free produce had a positive impact on the community, and brought many together at the Warped Wing release party to celebrate the making of locally produced beer. Throughout the season, plant growth and flower blooms in the MMG positively impacted the local pollinator populations, including honeybees and bumble bees and their attraction to rugosa roses and raspberry blooms, and ladybugs and their dependence on mugwort. Some notable species such as hummingbird hawkmoths and ruby-throated hummingbirds have also been found finding their way to tubular flowers, such as cat mint and salvia in the garden. For the duration of this experiment, the advantages of having one’s own edible garden are discussed, as well as suggesting the best crops to be grown in edible gardens for the benefit of households, communities, and ecosystems.  

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-5240

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved.